They grow up so fast!!! OK, well, mine aren't quite headed off to college. But boy oh boy, I'm not sure where the past two years have gone. Well, to be completely truthful, the past year and a half! After moving last year, we've put most of the renovating / decorating on the back burner. And after loving our twins' nursery in our last house (photo below), I knew it was beyond time, to start creating a more suitable space for both P & K.

For starters, we recently transitioned out of cribs (insert super sad face). We debated using the toddler conversion that was included with our cribs, but ultimately were desperate for more floor space in their tiny bedroom (110 sq. ft.) So, to maximize space, but also wanting to fit two twin size mattresses we decided on bunk beds.

Knowing good and well, that bunks for toddlers isn't always the most practical, we planned for two things...one, we looked for a unit that was shorter than a standard bunk height (therefore, we bought the Ikea Mydal) and two, we plan to diy this budget friendly bunk ($169) into an awesome cottage / castle / fort for our kiddos. So, inspired by the look of this and this, we hope to finalize and create our design in the upcoming months. In the meantime, our kiddos love sharing the bottom bunk, and P has even spent a few nights on the top.

**Something To Note: If you're considering the Ikea Mydal, know that the rails do not go high enough to safely secure a traditional twin mattress, you need to plan on purchasing a twin that is 5 inches in height or less. We didn't realize this until we were at the store, so out of convenience we went with Ikea Minnesund Foam Mattress, $89. So far, it's getting the job done and works for the kids. Had we thought it out more, I'm thinking I may have gone with this one instead. Anyways, just a heads up!

In the space where the second crib had resided, we put in a round play table (ours we got on major major clearance and is now sold out ~ but you can find similar ones here, here & this budget friendly one here). Paired with these chairs, this space is perfect for puzzles, blocks and drawing!

I lOVE that my kiddos can now sit for more that just board books! With their current favorites being this, this, this & this! So, to encourage their love of reading, a reading nook was on the top of my list for their new space. For shelves we went with a popular Ikea hack. At just $3.99 a piece, Ikea's "BEKVAM" spice racks make for the perfect children's bookshelves. We painted ours white, and hung a total of 6 units. Easy, Peasy! A diy poster from their second birthday party, this framed art and this animal head, bring more color to the space. For chairs I came across these children's loungers from TJMaxx, they were a steal at $35 a piece. Similar styles can be found here and here. There's nothing I love more than hidden storage! These storage ottomans have stood the test of time and come in all kinds of great colors. Perfect for hiding larger toys or corralling loose ends!

And to solve our major storage issue, we installed two Billy Bookcases from Ikea, both with height extensions, to corral and organize all the toys. The ultimate plan is to make these into 'built ins'. But in the meantime, they're perfectly functional with the addition of storage bins and baskets that store and hide all of P & K's toys.

One final thing to note, the rug can be found here. Color is Swedish blue. We had it in their nursery and kept it in this space. It's cotton and has held up well to all of our wear and tear! I highly recommend a significant rug pad underneath (we bought and love this one), as this rug is by no means plush. But I love that it's lightweight and can easily be washed and hung outside, tackling all those stains that are unavoidable with babies and toddlers!

So, there you have it. The current state of P & K's room. There's still walls to be painted, a new light to be installed, the bunk design to finish and execute and another wall that needs to be designed (thinking making it a multi use space, displaying / hanging dress up clothes, while also making it a wall to display their art). So, while this is no way a completed space, I'm so happy it's finally a cheerful, functional bedroom for my growing toddlers!

And on one final note...I'd like to address (and thank!) all the outpouring of love and support from my last post. I'd be lying if I said the past two years have not been hard. In searching for some measure of peace, I've taken the past few months (and frankly, last year) away from the internet and away from creating. I miss this little space I've created here and I look forward to sharing more of our simple life with you! So, thanks for sticking around and thank you to the many many many of you who took the time to reach out through email and comments and messages the past few months. It truly means more to me than you know! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you!

HELLO!

I’m so glad you’re here! After taking a blogging hiatus, we’re back and currently tackling one house project at a time, starting from the outside! With a new start & a fresh perspective, we’re living the simple life, at home and in the garden.